coolant

[american-kiwi]

Hi All
...i want to do a coolant flush.....what type and/or brand do you recommend for my 78 ?...i looked on "alldata" (at work)...they dont say what type to use only the amount of coolant

[911blex]

I highly recommend Mercedes-Benz coolant as it is phosphate-free and contains buffers that hold the pH neutral for about 3 years. This is very important as high pH (alkaline) coolant and/or coolants that contain phosphates can eat away at aluminum parts and cause embrittlement of plastic cooling system parts.

I also think it is very important to mix your antifreeze with distilled water that can be bought inexpensively at Walmart to keep minerals from forming deposits reacting with the different metals in your cooling system.

IMO, money saved by putting in a less expense coolant is often lost in the long run with clogged and corroded components replacement, possible overheating, and additional coolant flushes.

[devilinblack]

The Zerex G-05 seems to be popular because of all the facts already stated about the MB coolant. $15/gallon and available at most auto places, although not always on the shelf. I ended up doing a bit of driving to get some at CarQuest and then a week later my local Kragen started putting it out on the shelf.

[MPDano]

Originally Posted by devilinblack

The Zerex G-05 seems to be popular because of all the facts already stated about the MB coolant. $15/gallon and available at most auto places, although not always on the shelf. I ended up doing a bit of driving to get some at CarQuest and then a week later my local Kragen started putting it out on the shelf.

Dang, I was looking for that post on Zerex G-05 and was going to link it. Anyways, you beat me to it. They also carry it at NAPA.

[SolReaver]

Good phosphate free and silica free coolant is worth the extra money as is distilled water. I use distilled water only for the flush as I personally don't like to use anything caustic. However you are prob OK with something on the mild side. Remember the two 13mm bolts on the block and always replace the rad drain plug (they are cheap) and possibly the rad cap. If you are quick, you can put the overflow tube into the drain holes to minimize the mess.

[Danglerb]

Walmart for the distilled water, used to be mixed with DexCool, now I guess for the Porsches anyway I may be converting to the VW/Audi coolant. Could be the same as the Pentosin G12, but the jugs I see come from VW / Audi.

Cheapest to most expensive doesn't make that much difference in cost, so I try and use the best I can. I don't think its "very" critical as long as something designed for aluminum blocks is used and changed on a proper interval. The big problem is with cars parked for long periods, whiere the coolant goes acid and starts eating away the metal, and that can ruin a block.

[american-kiwi]

Thanks for the info guys.